Lisa Johnson
@reportrix.bsky.social
Alberta provincial affairs reporter for The Canadian Press
This is such an exceptional read. I like that it made me uncomfortable about the future and reality but with really compelling writing so then I’m invited to tag along so I feel smart and I learned stuff and it feels fun. Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦
Shannon Proudfoot@sproudfoot.bsky.social · last mo.New from me: an attempt to unpack the story the PM is telling us about Canada - what it gets us, what advantages it gIves him, and what’s missing from it.
SCOOP: I obtained the itinerary and other documents relating to Edmonton police Chief Warren Driechel’s February 2026 Israel trip. @mbueckert.bsky.social of @cjpme.org says it’s “much worse than any of us expected.” open.substack.com/pub/theorcha...
SCOOP: Edmonton police chief visited illegal West Bank settlements during Israel trip
Warren Driechel also met with members from an undercover unit that less than three months earlier executed two unarmed men in Jenin after they had surrendered.
open.substack.com
Rather than say he supports remaining in Canada like other Danielle Smith ministers have, Transportation Min. Devin Dreeshen said the onus is on Ottawa to fight to keep Canada together. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta cabinet minister won't say if he supports keeping province in Canada | CBC News
While other cabinet members have backed Smith's pledge to vote to stay in Canada, Devin Dreeshen avoided answering the question.
cbc.ca
There is no expiration date on the Alberta paper health card. As per the one health ministry that rules them all, you can use that paper puppy for a while. If you want/need a new/renewed ID card/drivers licence, that’s when your “strong and free” status becomes NOT optional, with the fee.
Lisa Johnson@reportrix.bsky.social · 2mo agoYeah. There’s that. There’s also some wiggle room in terms of the timeline. The Alberta government didn’t give a drop dead paper health card date. Nally expects the switch will take six years — no doubt because some people can renew driver’s licences for five years. Like now. Between now and July 2
Alberta's Smith says law will be enforced if separation vote spurs civil disobedience nationalnewswatch.com/2026/06/05/a...
Alberta's Smith says law will be enforced if separation vote spurs…
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
From 2020 as “anarchy” was afoot. The bill, still on the books, was spurred by federal regs, and “the general atmosphere of lawlessness that we have seen take hold of parts of our country and much of our economic infrastructure in the past three weeks,” said Kenney at the time: l1nq.com/1ryprde
'Urban green left zealots': Kenney announces new law meant to curb rail blockades
On the eve of the Throne Speech and in the wake of Teck’s decision to pull out of its Frontier Mine project, Premier Jason Kenney announced legislation targeting pr…
edmontonjournal.com
Lisa Johnson@reportrix.bsky.social · 2mo ago“If they’re ignoring courts, ignoring the rulings, it shows to me that they are lawless,” Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi said of Smith’s UCP. Immediately brought to mind today was Kenney’s anti-protest law, the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act (2020): globalnews.ca/news/1189105...
“If they’re ignoring courts, ignoring the rulings, it shows to me that they are lawless,” Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi said of Smith’s UCP. Immediately brought to mind today was Kenney’s anti-protest law, the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act (2020): globalnews.ca/news/1189105...
Civil disobedience an option if Alberta referendum proceeds: First Nations chiefs | Globalnews.ca
Treaty 8's grand chief said First Nations will stop the referendum in any way they can, including getting in the way of industry, or, in his words, 'getting out on the highway.'
globalnews.ca
Yeah. There’s that. There’s also some wiggle room in terms of the timeline. The Alberta government didn’t give a drop dead paper health card date. Nally expects the switch will take six years — no doubt because some people can renew driver’s licences for five years. Like now. Between now and July 2
Kelly Miller@sqirlgirly.bsky.social · 2mo agoNo additional cost? If you don’t have or want a driver’s license, do you now have to pay for one to have healthcare?
Lest some Albertans take this statement from the premier's office to mean it's optional ... Dear reader, it is mandatory. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Former judge — and UCP donor — tapped to chair new Alberta panel redrawing electoral boundaries UCP backbenchers claim the past donations doesn’t mean the former justice will bring partisanship to the job. By @reportrix.bsky.social: ca.news.yahoo.com/former-alber...
Former Alberta judge tapped to chair panel redrawing electoral boundaries
EDMONTON — Alberta's governing United Conservative Party has tapped a retired judge to chair the province's new political boundaries panel.
ca.news.yahoo.com
Holding a separation referendum in hopes it loses and the movement withers away, eh, Premier Smith? Ask a Brit or Quebecer how that turns out. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... by me
ANALYSIS | Danielle Smith's wishful thinking: her separation vote loses, and that's the end of it | CBC News
Alberta premier and others believe the independence movement might wither after a defeat. That hasn't happened in other separatist movements.
cbc.ca
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith blames Liberal MPs, NDP leader Avi Lewis, and unnamed leaders in BC, for the national unity crisis that erupted after she announced a secession referendum: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... w @mattscace.bsky.social
Smith blames others for national unity crisis as she draws criticism from all sides
Would-be separatists talking about removing Alberta Premier as United Conservative Party Leader
theglobeandmail.com
Alberta must be ‘at the centre’ of making Canada better, Carney says globalnews.ca/news/1186022... Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com
Alberta must be ‘at the centre’ of making Canada better, Carney says | Globalnews.ca
Albertans are set to go to the polls this fall to answer a series of referendum questions, including whether or not to vote — at a future date — to leave Canada.
globalnews.ca
Smith says Alberta separatists should aim to win fall vote and respect the result nationalnewswatch.com/2026/05/22/s...
Smith says Alberta separatists should aim to win fall vote and…
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
I'm so very pooped. @jack-farrell.bsky.social w/ reaction from Stay Free Alberta's Jeff Rath on Smith today. “I think Danielle just kicked over a hornet’s nest,” Rath said in an interview. “It remains to be seen whether she’s still premier come September.” www.timescolonist.com/national-new...
Referendum on a referendum: Albertans to vote on putting separation on another ballot
EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans will be going to the polls in October to cast their vote on separation – but they won’t actually be voting on whether to separate.
timescolonist.com
If the past is any indication, you will likely see a flood of misinformation about this, if you haven't already. Here is the #ableg committee meeting today in full: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8SA...
Select Special Citizen Initiative Proposal Review Committee - May 20th, 2026
YouTube video by Legislative Assembly of Alberta
youtube.com
We could see the Alberta government call a referendum tomorrow when the committee comes back at 2pm. The Lukaszuk question, you ask? From the retracted UCP release: "Albertans will be informed once Cabinet has decided whether a question will proceed to a referendum and what that question will be."
Jack Farrell@jack-farrell.bsky.social · 3mo agoAlberta legislature committee eyes separation vote as meeting hits bizarre roadblock One more update to come with UCP looking fix it’s flat tires with another meeting tomorrow. From me: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Been covering #ableg just 'bout 7 years now and I've never seen any caucus release a statement announcing a decision before the vote. UCP caucus then said: "We would like to clarify that the previous statement was inadvertently distributed in eror (sic). Please disregard the earlier communication."
Something from me with retirement looming: A Substack, with some advice for reporters interested in covering politics. #mbpoli substack.com/@stevelamber...
My two cents: Advice for aspiring political reporters and their editors
Some advice to reporters who want to cover politics, from a retiring journalist
substack.com
Eight of us weigh in on the court's separatist petition ruling. thewalrus.ca/alberta-sepa...
Can Alberta Still Separate? Experts Clash over the Landmark Court Decision | The Walrus
A cross-country panel debates one of the most consequential rulings in years
thewalrus.ca
Tight read, some intriguing forward looking analysis. Thought I had absorbed all the referendum talk this province could offer and then comes this reference to Napoleon’s plebiscites of authoritarianism. Missed opportunity for certain X accounts to make AI of Smith in Napoleonic war gear on a horse
Jared Wesley@jaredwesley.ca · 3mo agoEight of us weigh in on the court's separatist petition ruling. thewalrus.ca/alberta-sepa...
Must listen if you haven’t already - big ups to @jack-farrell.bsky.social who brings important context and facts to the discussion on the #ableg separatism court decision
Jack Farrell@jack-farrell.bsky.social · 3mo agoIf you somehow didn’t get your political news fill this week in Alberta, you can listen to Kathleen, myself, Lori Williams and Trevor Harrison chat about Justice Leonard’s decision, what Premier Smith is doing about it and the MOU update on this week’s West of Centre pod. www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
Smith: "We think that this decision is incorrect in law and anti-democratic, and we will be appealing it." Nenshi, on Smith (maybe) sidestepping and calling a ballot Q anyways: "They cannot do it without defying the law." From @jack-farrell.bsky.social www.timescolonist.com/alberta-news...
Judge quashes Alberta separation petition, Smith calls ruling 'anti-democratic'
EDMONTON — A judge threw out an Alberta separatist petition Wednesday, ruling the province had a duty to consult with First Nations — a decision quickly declared "anti-democratic" by Premier Danielle ...
timescolonist.com
This is being overshadowed with the petition news, but Elections Alberta confirmed today it actually thinks ‘thousands’ accessed the leaked voter list, not just the 566 it sent cease-and-desist letters too last week. From me & @reportrix.bsky.social: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
Scope of access to leaked Alberta voter list may be incomplete: Elections Alberta
EDMONTON - Elections Alberta says the separatist group at the centre of a massive voter information breach may not have shared the full list of individuals who accessed its public
thecanadianpressnews.ca
Late night statement hit the inbox from a lawyer for David Parker asserting Elections Alberta is pushing a false narrative about his participation in the Alberta voter list leak investigation. Here’s statement in full:
ICYMI: Elections Alberta received ** two ** tips that the Centurion Project may have had unauthorized access to Alberta's list of electors and twice said it did not have enough info to launch an investigation: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... w @mattscace.bsky.social
Separatist leader accused of misusing Alberta electors list refuses to co-operate with investigators
David Parker is accused of providing hundreds of supporters with access to private information belonging to 2.9 million residents
theglobeandmail.com
Separatist organizer David Parker is stonewalling investigators following allegations his org misused Alberta's list of electors www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber... w @mattscace.bsky.social
Separatist leader accused of misusing Alberta electors list refuses to co-operate with investigators
David Parker is accused of providing hundreds of supporters with access to private information belonging to 2.9 million residents
theglobeandmail.com
